In the scriptures, we are taught that we are literal spirit sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and that we lived with Him before we were born. We can’t remember the relationship that we had with Him but being on Earth means we trusted Him and His Plan of Happiness.

Before being born, we knew that we would experience challenges and hardships but we agreed to come to Earth anyway because we knew that His plan was the only way for us to progress and achieve lasting happiness. There is no greater testimony than this—that we trusted and loved our Heavenly Father. We knew Him and had a special relationship with Him and we can still have that familiarity and relationship now as we get to know Him as our Father.

In the Bible, the Apostle John wrote the grandest expression of Heavenly Father’s love for us saying,

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Heavenly Father knew that we would need direction so He sent His Son to become our example on how we can live a life that is pleasing to Him. He knew that we would experience disappointments, heartbreaks, regret, despair, sadness, discouragement, and many other experiences that would tax our courage and test our faith so He sent His Son to bear all of these so He could know exactly how to comfort us. He knew that we would fall short and make mistakes, that’s why He sent His Son—so we can repent and be forgiven of our sins.

How great a sacrifice it was for the Father to send His Only Begotten Son to Earth knowing that He would suffer, be crucified and die on the cross for the sins of the world. And yet Heavenly Father did, so that all of us may live again. He did it because He loves us. He loves you.

This Bible verse also gives us a glimpse of the nature of God—that He is a distinct and separate being from His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and yet they are united in purpose, which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

In Doctrine and Covenants, we also learn that “[t]he Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as [our bodies]” but unlike us, He is a glorified, exalted, and perfected being. And He provided a way for us to progress in this life until we receive the greatest gift of all—a glorious, exalted existence, inheriting all that He has.

Because He is all-powerful and perfect, we might feel hesitant to reach out to Him. But when we do, we will realize that heaven is not so distant after all. His love for us is so vast, so encompassing, that no matter how broken or flawed we think we are, His love is simply there.

As we try to get to know Him as our Father, we will learn of His love, and in turn, increase our capacity to love not only Him but also the people around us. We will feel an increased desire to follow Him and become like Him. We may not remember the details of when we lived in His presence, but our spirits will slowly remember what it felt like.

To learn more about Heavenly Father and how you can build your relationship with Him or if you’d like to share your personal stories and experiences with us, please contact us and we would be happy to have a chat with you.

The post How Well Do You Know Heavenly Father? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Whenever I remember that account from the New Testament, I can’t help but wonder, “How could they doubt their safety and help when Christ Himself was with them?” The answer only recently hit me: Don’t we all need assurance? Isn’t it so easy to falter in our faith, especially at times when God seems to be so silent? Isn’t it so easy to doubt when the much needed balm in Gilead doesn’t come?”

There were times in my life when members bore powerful testimonies of miracles they had seen in their lives, and it made me wonder what was happening with my life. Why is it that sometimes, I don’t get powerful answers to my prayers, especially when I need them the most?

Challenges and trials are a part of our earthly life. Through our personal experiences, and the testimonies of others who have gone through challenges, we gain a personal testimony of how the Lord comforts those who stand in need of comfort. But there will be times when we experience the silence of heaven – times when the succor we so desperately need to help us stay afloat through the smashing waves just doesn’t come. In God’s silence, we can also cry out “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my depression and anxiety are slowly consuming me?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my illness doesn’t seem to have a cure?”

“Master, carest Thou not that my righteous goals seem to be so unachievable?”

“Master, carest Thou not that nobody seems to understand how painful it is to lose a spouse or a child?”

Fear can easily replace faith when towering waves threaten us in our journey. As we brave the enormous waves crashing against our boats, we may frantically look for help only to realize that the Lord has not really left our boat. He is right beside us on our rough journey. There are times when God is silent to help strengthen our faith, but He is still with us.

Like every well-meaning parent, the Lord sometimes chooses to be silent, not because He doesn’t love us or feels that we’re unworthy of His love and mercy. His silence – in a way – is an expression of His love.

God’s silence helps us develop the faith to simply do what we can do

When my son started walking, I made sure I was with him every step of the way. Time passed and his baby steps turned into big leaps – leaps that caused him to sometimes fall down. I remember how one fall caused him to cry harder than usual. Instead of pulling him up, I watched what he would do next. Eventually – still crying – he rose up without my help, and began smiling again.

The Lord sent us here to “prove [us] herewith” – this includes letting us make our own choices. Like a wise parent, the Lord won’t always hoist us up, but instead lets us find out for ourselves what we should do. Simply moving forward despite the storm – even through God’s silence – will help us develop stronger faith and testimonies.

God’s silence helps us trust in His timetable

The Prophet Joseph Smith experienced incredibly heavy trials and tribulations during the early days of the Church. Struggling under the weight of these trials, the Prophet prayed, as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 121. In his desperation, the Prophet cried out “O God, where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth Thy hiding place?”

However, in an interesting response, the Lord did not tell him when all his afflictions would end. Instead, the Lord reminded him that all the challenges he was going through would be for his own good. During that time, the Lord comforted him, but He also asked the Prophet to “endure it well.” This powerful example shows that the Lord – in His infinite mercy – is always there to help. But His help does not always mean we will have a hardship-free life. In His silence, the Lord teaches us to trust His timetable, to hold on to faith, and to endure our afflictions well. All of our challenges will come to an end – but we need to trust the Lord first.

When God is silent, He helps us reach out and hold on to Him more

God’s silence allows us to assess our relationship with Him. Did we take a few steps away from Him? Have we truly taken the time to listen? Do we truly understand how He speaks to us? Experiencing silence from the heavens helps us reach out to and listen to the Lord more.

“Master the Tempest is Raging” – a hymn inspired by the account from Matthew 8 – bears a powerful line: “No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.” No matter how high the waves are, or how vicious the sea is, you will be able to endure your afflictions as long as you turn to the Lord. He may be silent now, but in His own time, He will rise and calm the storms and winds of your life. Trust God’s silence.

The post Master, Carest Thou Not That We Perish? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

It was a song to my parents, asking them to “lead me” and to “guide me” in this life so I can live with my Heavenly Father again someday. And whenever I hear my kids sing it, I am reminded that it is my responsibility to teach them correct principles so they can return to their Eternal Father someday. The best father I could learn from is Heavenly Father and the only way to learn from Him is to draw closer to Him. Fatherhood helped me do that.

Fatherhood helped me understand Heavenly Father’s love for all His children

When I think about Heavenly Father sacrificing His Only Begotten Son to save all His children, I cannot comprehend how hard it must have been for Him. But fatherhood gave me a little glimpse of that feeling— of being willing to sacrifice something for my children’s welfare. Fatherhood taught me that there is no sacrifice too great, and no obstacle too hard that a father cannot do or surpass for his child.

My children’s joys also became my joys, and their sorrows my sorrows. My prayers became more focused on my best desires for them. I became more selfless and giving. My life became less about me and more about my children.

Having experienced this, I came to know how much Heavenly Father loves me, and all His children, and how much He’s willing to sacrifice to see His children come home again. My heart is continually filled with an overwhelming, almost unfathomable, love for my children. And if I feel this way now, how much more can an Eternal Father feel for all His spirit sons and daughters on both sides of the veil.

Knowing how much He loves me has helped me to come to know Him better. I am more comfortable seeking His counsel when I struggle as a father, because I know that He understands perfectly what I am going through.

Fatherhood taught me to be patient like Him

When I was still single, I thought I was already a very patient person. But when I became a father, I realized that my patience was not quite as developed as I thought yet. I guess fatherhood introduces men to our unrealized potential, and challenges us to grow.

Fatherhood is a journey of endless  patience—when the kids throw a tantrum, when they insist on what they want, when they purposefully spill their milk on the floor, when they refuse to listen, when they begin to grow up and think that they don’t need your guidance because they’ve got it all figured out, etc. These experiences have, and continue, to shape my life, and I cannot help but think about the extent of Heavenly Father’s patience towards all His children. He has many children and a good portion of them disobey Him. Some even believe He doesn’t exist. But He loves them anyway. His patience towards all His children is the perfect example for every father to follow.

So whenever I scrunch my forehead over spilled milk or a tantrum, I can think of how Heavenly Father would react to such a situation. Constantly reminding myself how patient He is as a father helps me to re-pattern my fatherhood style to His—the One who never gives up on His children no matter how stubborn they can be. Having Him as a role model draws me closer to Him as I still seek inspiration on how to become a father like Him.

Fatherhood gave me a glimpse of how much He’s willing to forgive

When my children make mistakes, they ask forgiveness by saying, “Sorry, Daddy.” Sometimes, I forgive them right away, but oftentimes, I first ask them what they did wrong and why they did it. I then try to teach them the lesson behind their action, and why it was wrong. After this type of conversation, everything feels great again. Through these countless conversations I have had with my children, I have come to understand more clearly how much Heavenly Father is willing to forgive His children when they ask for sincere forgiveness, no matter how great the mistakes they have made.

Knowing how much he’s willing to forgive has drawn me closer to Him as I have asked forgiveness for mistakes I have made and the times I have fallen short of being the father He wants me to become.

Out of all the blessings I have received from fatherhood, the greatest is coming closer to Him as I have come to better understand the extent of His love and patience for all His children, and his willingness to forgive those come back to His fold.

The post How Fatherhood Helped me Come Closer to Heavenly Father appeared first on morefaith.ph.

One of its teachings is that Christ is our advocate with the Father. He pleads our cause to Heavenly Father and asks that all of us who come unto Him be spared and receive everlasting life. What glorious knowledge that He, who lived a perfect life and committed no sin, pleads to our God for our salvation, that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness and have a place in the Father’s kingdom. Because He died, all those who come and partake of the blessings of His Atonement will be saved.

The book also teaches that “the worth of souls is great in the sight” of both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  They love every soul that has ever lived, and  they sacrifice so much for all of us to be saved. We are worth so much that Jesus Christ suffered the most excruciating pain and death to ransom all men from their sins. And men’s souls are so great that the Lord, in His wisdom, has sent thousands of missionaries throughout the world to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of His atoning sacrifice.

Another teaching is that the Father and the Son have, “a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s”. This revelation verifies the truthfulness of one doctrine in the Book of Moses: that we were created in the image of God. If we were created in His image and His likeness, it must be that He has a body like the body that we have, except that He is immortal. It also proves that the reunion of spirit and body during resurrection is real, since Jesus is a living God whose body is the same body that was laid in a tomb thousands of years ago. The Savior, going through everything to set the example for us—including baptism, death and resurrection—is a perfect example of a shepherd.

There is also an account of the 116-page manuscript of the Book of Mormon that was lost by Martin Harris. Through this situation, the Lord has shown that He is always prepared against the cunning plans of the adversary. He prepared another account to compensate for the lost manuscript, thousands of years before it was lost. This shows that He is indeed an all-knowing God and His wisdom in all things must be trusted. He has prepared a way for us to accomplish all the things that He commands us to do. This account also emphasizes that the work of salvation cannot be frustrated.

Lastly, the book teaches that the Lord is “bound when [we] do what [He] say[s].” This is a very generous promise that as long as we obey His commandments, God will fulfill His promises. Of course there will be times when the promise seems afar off, but the Lord remembers and through Him, waiting need not be in vain.

The post What can the Doctrine and Covenants teach us about Jesus and Heavenly Father? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Have you ever wondered if there’s still someone out there willing to love and listen to you despite sa weakness na mayroon ka?

At some point in our lives, we experience these things and I too know for myself that I am weak and not even close to perfect yet. There are a lot of times na nagkakamali ako o minsan hindi wise ang decisions na nagagawa ko sa buhay and sometimes because I know I am not perfect I struggle with doubts about myself.

There are instances in my life when I feel discouraged, especially when I am trying so hard to be good, and it seems like it’s not enough and I am still failing. I have often asked myself, “what’s wrong with me,” “why life is so hard on me,” and even, “if I am not good enough for others, then who am I?”

Until one day, I was reading the scripture and pondering sa mga nabasa ko I started to realize and understand something. It was an inspiration and a reminder kung sino ba talaga ako sa mata ng Diyos.

Reading the scriptures and obeying simple commandments of God have helped me realize more that He never gets tired of helping me to become a good disciple of Jesus Christ. I think na mas iniisip ko ang sasabihin at iniisip ng mga tao sa paligid ko than thinking of how Heavenly Father thinks and feels about me.  At minsan dahil we are affected sa judgment ng mundo sa atin nakakalimutan natin kung sino talaga tayo.

I am grateful for that reminder that was the inspiration for me, that I am a child of God and how blessed I am to have a loving Father in Heaven whose love is infinite. I am grateful to know na sa oras na pakiramdam mo there’s nobody who can understand and truly accept you, Heavenly Father is there.

I am happy to know that I have God in my life. Whenever you feel down He will cheer you up and encourage you to do your best. When you feel alone. He will comfort you. When you fall He will give you His hand and pull you up. He will never criticize, judge or blame you because you are not yet good enough. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect yet, instead, He wants us to be at our best always.

A trial we had in our family lately has helped bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. It helps us to love each other more. It encourages us to know our Father in Heaven better and to trust in Him every day. As we have evaluated our lives we have come to see na nakakalimutan na namin ang Diyos at tanging nagrerely na lang kami sa aming sariling kakayahan.

I need Thee, Lord. You are my strength and without Thee, I am nothing. I know my Father lives and He loves me. My trials and challenges will always be a reminder to me that Heavenly Father wants me back.

Who am I if I am not good enough? I am a daughter of my loving Father in Heaven. I believe in Him and I know that He Knows me for He is the Father of my spirit.

The post Who am I if I am Not Good Enough? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Heavenly Father, are you really there?

And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?

Some say that heaven is far away,

But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now

Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:

“Suffer the children to come to me.”

Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

Pray, he is there;

Speak, he is list’ning.

You are his child;

His love now surrounds you.

He hears your prayer;

He loves the children.

Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav’n.

This song applies not only to children young in age, but to all of Heavenly Father’s children. We are commanded to ‘call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore” (Moses 5:8). The same commandment was given to Adam when he left God’s presence. From that day to this, prayer has been a way for us to speak to Heavenly Father.
 

How should we pray?

The scriptures teach us that we should pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ because “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Him]” (John 14:6). We must pray with a humble heart. We must be willing to submit to His will and echo the words of Jesus Christ, “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We must have a repentant heart to confess the sins we committed when we pray. We can also include others in our prayers especially those who need comfort.

Praying to our Heavenly Father also requires a sincere intention. This intent can be to give gratitude to Heavenly Father for the blessings we have received or to ask for guidance and direction and then act on the answers we receive. Jesus counseled, “Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6). We must not pray in public to get the attention and approval of other people. However, we can pray in groups as we join our families, congregation, community and friends in prayer. We can pray silently or vocally.
 

What should we pray for?

Praying to our Heavenly Father includes giving gratitude for all of our countless blessings especially the Plan of Salvation and the Savior’s Atonement. We can also pray for light when we feel clouded with confusion, or direction when we make important decisions, etc. We are taught in the Book of Nephi that “…whatsoever [we] shall ask the Father in [Jesus’] name, which is right, believing that [we] shall receive, behold it shall be given unto [us].” Furthermore, it has been written in the Book of Matthew, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Heavenly Father is a loving Father who wants to grant our righteous desires. However, He gives a warning to those who ask for unrighteous things saying, “And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:65).
 

When should we pray?

Heavenly Father is on standby 24 hours a day, every day. When we feel the need to communicate with Him, He is ever ready to hear us. We can pray when we are alone or when we are surrounded by people. We should pray before meals and morning and night with our families. We can pray when we are walking to work or when we are doing our chores. Latter-day Saints start and close meetings with a prayer. Praying to our Heavenly Father can be done anytime.
 

How are prayers answered?

Prayers are answered in a multitude of ways, in the Lord’s own time, and in accordance with each person’s individual needs. Answers can come by having feelings of peace about a certain choice or option, or through solutions and opportunities we’d perhaps never have thought of before. Answers can come through the scriptures, through other people, or even through the help of angels who can guide and inspire from the other side of the veil.

When we pray, we must remember that our timing is not God’s timing. In the Book of Isaiah, the Lord said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The righteous desires that we cry out to the Lord in prayer are answered through our faithfulness and our willingness to wait upon the Lord. Some blessings come as we desire, some blessings come later, and some do not come until we reach heaven, In addition, some blessings may not be right for us, and the answer given is “no.”

For the blessings that do not come, we read an explanation in the Book of James that reads, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” The blessings that we ask will not come if our desires are not in line with Heavenly Father’s will. He promised us that “If [we] abide in [Him], and [His] words abide in [us], [we] shall ask what [we] will, and it shall be done unto [us]” (John 15:7).

Praying to our Heavenly Father brings us closer to Him. There is no prayer too silent that He cannot hear nor any place too far away that we cannot reach Him.

The post How Prayers Connect Us To Heavenly Father appeared first on morefaith.ph.